Trent Robinson, the head coach of the Sydney Roosters, expressed his frustration following his team’s 30-12 defeat to the Gold Coast Titans at Allianz Stadium on Friday night. This loss marked a significant low in the Roosters’ season, as they struggled with errors and miscommunication, leading to their second consecutive defeat.
The Titans capitalised on the Roosters’ mistakes, breaking an 11-match losing streak against them that dated back to 2016. Robinson pointed out that his team’s performance was undermined by a staggering 19 errors and eight penalties, resulting in a dismal completion rate of just 59%. Despite team captain James Tedesco feeling moments of strength during the game, Robinson condemned their poor ball control, equating their high error rate to a lack of NRL standards.
Robinson emphasised the importance of maintaining pressure on opponents, highlighting that failing to create opportunities ultimately leads to execution errors from the opposition. He felt that the Roosters had several chances to take control of the game, particularly when the score was close at 12-8. However, they were unable to maintain composure during critical moments and failed to close out the match in their favour.
The Titans showed resilience, turning the tide of the match with a flurry of four tries late in the game. Key contributions came from fullback AJ Brimson, who notched two tries, helping power the Titans to a commanding lead in the final stages after being closely matched early on. The Roosters initially scored first through Mark Nawaqanitawase, only for the Titans to respond and level the game before pushing ahead decisively in the dying minutes.
Discipline issues marred the Roosters’ efforts, with their inability to control the game contributing heavily to the disappointing outcome. Situations worsened when Spencer Leniu and Victor Radley faced injury concerns, further skewing team dynamics. The match featured several contentious moments, including a potential forward pass that was overlooked, allowing the Roosters to briefly regain a slender lead.
Ultimately, this capitulation highlights the urgent need for the Roosters to address their shortcomings if they aspire to improve their standings this season. With Robinson’s concerns echoing the need for calmness and better decision-making, the Roosters must regroup before their next outing to avoid falling further behind in the competition.